Choosing an apprenticeship in Professional Cookery meant Georgina could enjoy college life, earn money and gain work experience, all at the same time.

Read how she fell in love with working with food along with her tips for finding a hospitality apprenticeship.

Georgina’s Story

“I didn’t really enjoy school that much, so I knew I didn’t want to stay on for sixth form. When I was leaving school, I saw a Professional Cookery apprenticeship advertised in my village. It meant I could work, get paid and go to college, all at the same time.

I’d taken GCSE Food purely because I love food. During the apprenticeship, I just fell in love with working with it.

I started my Level 2 Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery in September 2022 when I was 16. My employer is Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa. I started off working in Astons restaurant.

The Chef life was quite a significant obstacle to get used to, especially at the start of the course. It was a bit of a shock to the system to go from school to working 10-12 hours a day and late nights. But my college tutor helped me deal with adapting to the Chef’s life. He was a Chef himself, so he gave me tips and advice on how to cope.

One of my biggest achievements was being promoted to working in the three-rosette restaurant Murrays during my course. I also entered two cookery competitions. In my first competition, I got a Merit. In the second, I won a silver medal.

I still work in Murrays at Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa. I’m also a project ambassador for a hospitality charity – The Burnt Chef Project – which promotes positivity in the hospitality industry.

I completed my apprenticeship in December 2023 and got three distinctions. Now, I always suggest to friends to do an apprenticeship. You get college life and get to go somewhere new, but you also gain work experience and earn your own money as well.

When you’re looking for an apprenticeship, I suggest starting with the Gov.uk apprenticeship website. For apprenticeships in the hospitality industry, I recommend having a look around at restaurants in your local area. See which ones do the type of food you want to do, then you could send them an email and ask about apprentice opportunities.

I’m considering doing a Level 3 Cookery apprenticeship online next. I plan to stay where I am working now to learn the entire kitchen before moving to another restaurant. I’m also hoping to raise lots of money for the Burnt Chef Project in the future.

Georgina’s advice to anyone considering apprenticeships:

“I would say give it a shot; you’ve got to stick with it at times; it’s tougher than school. If you stick with it, you’ll do very well.”